{"id":5007,"date":"2018-03-07T09:26:55","date_gmt":"2018-03-07T09:26:55","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2021-01-05T06:34:06","modified_gmt":"2021-01-05T06:34:06","slug":"barrett-v-mod","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawteacher.net\/cases\/barrett-v-mod.php","title":{"rendered":"Barrett v Ministry of Defence"},"content":{"rendered":"

Barrett v Ministry of Defence [1995] 1 WLR 1217<\/h2>\n

[1995] 3 All ER 87; <\/strong>[1994] EWCA Civ 7<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEGLIGENCE, DUTY OF CARE, LIABILITY FOR EMPLOYEE\u2019S DEATH, <\/strong><\/p>\n

INJURY CAUSED BY DRUNKENNESS, NAVAL REGULATIONS, SAFETY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Facts<\/h3>\n

The plaintiff was the widow of the deceased, who was a British naval army serviceman. He died of asphyxiation on his own vomit after becoming drunk and ending up in coma at a naval base in Norway. The deceased\u2019s commanding officer was charged with negligence under Art. 1810 Queen\u2019s Regulations for the Royal Navy 1967<\/strong> which provided that it was the duty of officers to discourage drunkenness. The widow claimed damages against the defendant \u2013 the Ministry of Defence (MoD), under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976<\/strong><\/a>. The Queen\u2019s Bench held that the defendant had breached its duty to take measures to protect the deceased against his own weakness as it was foreseeable that he would succumb to intoxication. The damages awarded were reduced by 1\/4 because of the deceased\u2019s contributory negligence. The MoD appealed the decision to the Court of Appeal.<\/p>\n

Issue<\/h3>\n

Does Art. 1810 Queen\u2019s Regulations for the Royal Navy 1967<\/strong> impose a duty to ensure the safety of serviceman in naval bases when off duty?<\/p>\n

Decision\/Outcome<\/h3>\n

(1) Art. 1810 Queen\u2019s Regulations for the Royal Navy 1967\u00a0<\/strong>does not lay down standards or give guidance on the exercise of reasonable care for the safety of servicemen when off duty. Hence, it cannot be invoked when deciding whether duty of care was owed and whether the defendant had breached it.<\/p>\n

(2). Until the deceased collapsed, he was responsible for his own condition as it is reasonable to leave a responsible adult to assume responsibility for his own actions in consuming an alcoholic drink<\/p>\n

(3) However, after the deceased collapsed and was no longer able to assume responsibility and thus, the defendant had to do this for him, the defendant\u2019s actions fell short of the reasonably expected standards.<\/p>\n

(4) As it was the deceased\u2019s lack of self-control that caused the defendant to have to assume responsibility, the damages awarded were reduced by 2\/3.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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